Valving system for water softeners



Nov. 9, 1965 J. w. TIMMONS 3,216,450

VALVING SYSTEM FOR WATER SOFTENERS Filed Nov. 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG-l INVENTOR. JOHN W. TIMMONS ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 I J. w. TIMMONS3,216,450

VALVING SYSTEM FOR WATER SOFTENERS Filed Nov. 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. JOHN W. TIMMONS as B ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 J. w. TIMMONS3,216,450

VALVING SYSTEM FOR WATER SOF'I'ENERS Filed Nov. 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3FIG-5 INVENTOR. JOHN w. TIMMONS ATTOR N r United States Patent Ofiice3,215,450 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 3,216,450 VALVING SYSTEM FOR WATERSOFTENERS John W. Timmons, 909 E. Main St., Greenville, Ohio Filed Nov.9, 1962, Ser. No. 236,531 7 Claims. (Cl. 137599.1)

This invention relates to a valve, and more particularly to a valve ofthe type which is adapted to be used in conjunction with water softeningsystems.

An object of the invention is the provision of a unitary controlmechanism for original installation or for application to existinginstallations of water softeners for providing complete, automaticdetermination of softening, backwash, brining, slow rinse, fast rinse,and regenerative cycles of the system.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simplifiedautomatic cyclic regeneration control device of compact form embodying aminimum number of movable control elements, utilizing existing fluidpressure and pressure varying means for determining the sequence ofoperation, eliminating necessity of any band operation or control, oremployment of complicated driven cams or other mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve which includes aplurality of solenoid-controlled valving means; said valve beingadapted, in conjunction with a suitable timing means, to automaticallycontrol the flow of raw water through a softening tank, thence to anoutlet for usable, softened water; or for diverting the flow of rawwater from the softening tank into a brine tank and the subsequent flowof brine into the water softener for re-activating the water-softeningcrystals of the water softener; for effecting automatic rinsing of thecrystals after re-activation; and for automatically recharging the brinetank with water for a subsequent cycle.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a valve whichincludes various inlet and outlet ports which may be convenientlyconnected to the various water lines leading to a water softener, brinetank, outlet line and softened water line whereby to effectivelyautomate the various operating, charging, rinsing, etc. cycles.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent by reference to the following specification taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment thereof,and it will be understood that any modifications of the specificstructural elements shown and described may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit ofthe invention.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein andas disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical water softener system utilizing acyclic control valve embodying the teachings of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the valve of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the valve of FIG. 2, illustrating therelationship of the various elements thereof during a normal softeningor filtering cycle wherein raw water is directed to the inlet of thesoftener tank and softened water from the softener tank is directed tothe house lines.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the valve elements inposition for a backwash cycle.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the valve elements inposition for the brining and slow-rinse cycles.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the valve elements inposition for the fast-rinse cycle.

FIG. 7 is a view in section of a conventional normally open pressureactuated valve forming an element of the system.

As has been pointed out in connection with the enumeration of theobjects of the present invention, I have provided a novel, compact andimproved unitary valve or control mechanism for use as part of anoriginal installation or alternatively, for application to existingwater softener installations. Such installations, as commonly known inthe prior art for continuous softening of hard or raw water, normallycomprise a tank 10 containing a body of water-softening and filteringmaterial and a brine tank 12 intermittently employable to clean andregenerate the condition of the tank 10 containing water softeningmaterial. It will be understood that these parts, like the supply linefor the raw or untreated water and the distribution line or system forthe treated or softened water may be of any conventional form, and asthey, in themselves, form no part of the present invention.

In the drawings, similar reference characters are employed to denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views. The numeral 20 denotesgenerally the valve of the present invention which includes a centralbody portion A and side body portions B and C, each of which latterportions is provided with axially aligned internally threadedpipe-receptive sockets 22-24 and 26-28, respectively. Socket 22constitutes the raw or hard water inlet port of the valve which isadapted to be connected to a source of raw water, under pressure, viasupply pipe 21. Socket 24 constitutes the raw water outlet port of thevalve which is adapted to be connected to the inlet 19 of water softenertank 10 via pipe 23.

Socket 26 constitutes the water outlet port of the valve which isadapted to be connected to a soft water delivery pipe 25. Socket 28constitutes the soft water inlet port from the water softener tank towhich it is adapted to be connected by means of pipe 27.

With further reference now to FIG. 1, the numeral 30 denotes a drainline connected to drain outlet port 32 in the central body portion A;and the numeral 34 denotes a brine line interconnecting brine port 38 ofthe valve with the brine tank 12.

The numerals 40 and denote generally solenoids which are suitablysecured to and carried by the central body portion A. The operation oractuation of the aforesaid solenoid is controlled by an electric timervia conductors 42-44 and 52-54, respectively.

The interior of body portions B, A and C are provided with internalpassageways and chambers, whereby during the normal softening cycle,note FIG. 3, the raw water from inlet port 22 will pass through conduit70, conduit passage 72 into chamber 74 thence to conduit 76 and outthrough port 24 to the softener tank 10 via pipe 23 (FIG. 1).

Treated or softened water from tank 10 will pass through pipe 27 tovalve port 28, conduit 78, into chamber 80,

through conduit passage 82 into conduit through port 26 to distributionpipe 25.

Chambers 74 and 80 are provided with diaphragms 90 and 92, respectively,which comprise separating walls defining sub-chambers 91-93 and 7981,respectively. Diaphragms 90 and 92 are operatively connected by pistonsor actuator members 931 and 95 to poppet valves 94 and 96, respectively.

The numeral 100 denotes a by-pass conduit which inter-connects conduits70 and 84; and the numeral 114 denotes another by-pass conduit whichinter-connects portions of conduits 84 and 7 6.

During a normal softening cycle raw water from conduit 70 is precludedfrom entering by-pass conduit 100 by reason of poppet valve 94 engagingvalve seat 97 in the conduit 70 end of by-pass conduit 100.

During the softening cycle the solenoids 40 and 50 are de-energized andvalve elements 110 and 120 are disposed in closed position forpreventing a flow of water through drain conduit 108, which is in opencommunication with drain port 32.

A check valve 112 in by-pass conduit 114 prevents a back-flow of rawwater into conduit 114.

With further reference to FIG. 3, it will be noted that flow throughdrain conduit 108 is controlled by valve member 110 under the control ofsolenoid 40, and that when element 110 is in a closed position there isno flow of water from chamber 74 to conduit 108, and that water flowingthrough bleeder passage 109 from sub-chamber 91 to sub-chamber 93 isimpounded so that an equalized pressure condition is built up in saidchambers on opposite sides of diaphragm 90.

Due to the presence of piston rod 931, the pressure sensitive area ofthe diaphragm in sub-chamber 93 is somewhat in excess of the opposedarea in sub-chamber 91, effecting and insuring movement of poppet valve94 to the left, as illustrated. The numeral 111 denotes an additionalbleeder conduit or passage extending between and in open communicationwith conduit 70 and sub-chamber 93 for additionally insuring that linepressure will be provided in sub-chamber 93, which will maintain theparts in the operating positions illustrated in FIG. 3, even in theevent of a power failure.

The foregoing water softening cycle may continue for a period of fromone to many days, depending upon the capacity of the softener tank 10and the use-demands placed upon the system. Timer 60 will be pre-setwhereby to terminate the softening cycle for initiating a back-washcycle which will occur incident to energization of solenoid 40, throughtimer 60, resulting in opening valve element 110 which will permitdiaphragm 90 to be flexed to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 4, forshifting poppet valve 94 away from seat 97 to engage seat 71. Raw waterfrom conduit 70 will be diverted through conduit passage 97 into conduit100 into conduit 84, conduit passageway 82, chamber 80, conduit 78,thence out port 28, into pipe 27 for thereby effecting a reverse flowthrough softener tank 10, it being understood that during such reverseflow water will fiow'from port 19 of the softener tank through pipe 23into valve port 24 through conduit 76, chamber '74, bleeder passage 109,conduit 108, thence out drain port 32.

As soon as valve element 110 has been opened, as in FIG. 4, the pressureof raw water within chamber 74 will force the diaphragm 90 to the rightfor actuating poppet valve 94, thereby effecting a back-wash or reversecycle of raw water through the softener tank. The foregoing cycle shouldbe continued until the iron and sediment have been removed from themineral bed of the softener tank; in actual practice it has been foundthat a ten minute backwash cycle is quite satisfactory.

At the conclusion of the back-wash cycle, solenoid 40 remains energized,and solenoid 50 is also energized, whereby each of valve elements 110and 120 will be opened as illustrated in FIG. 5. When valving member 120is opened, the raw water from conduit 70 will be 84 and out divertedinto by-pass conduit 100 to conduit 84, thence into by-pass conduit 114and past venturi 150 which will develop a suction in brine line 116 forproviding a mixture of raw water and brine past check valve 112 intoconduit 76; thence through valve port 24 to softener tank 10 via pipe23.

Water from the outlet 9 of the softener tank will be conducted throughpipe 27 to valve port 28, thence through conduit 78, chamber 80, arounddiaphragm 92, through bleeder passage 200, thence into drain conduit 108to drain port 32. It will be noted that diaphragm 92 will be shifted tothe left and maintained in that position for disposing poppet valve 96in fluid closing relationship with respect to conduit passage 82 whileproviding free access through passage 83 between conduits 84 and 114.The mixture of brine and raw Water entering conduit 76 will apply apressure against diaphragm for maintaining it in the positionillustrated in FIG. 5 whereby poppet valve 94 will be maintained inclosed relationship with respect to conduit passage 72.

A mixture of brine and raw water is thus permitted to pass through thesoftener tank for a period of 10 minutes, or until such time as thebrine tank has been completely emptied, after which further fiow of rawwater through the softener tank will result in the mineral bed of thesoftener tank being subjected to a rinsing action.

Suitable conventional means, not illustrated, such as, by way ofexample, a conventional air check, may be provided in association withthe brine tank for preventing air from being drawn from the brine tankinto the softener; and for permitting raw water to flow into the top ofthe softener tank for rinsing the salt and brine from the mineral bed ofthe softener tank.

The next automatic cycle to which the valve is subjected is thefast-rinse and brine tank filling cycle which will automatically occurwhen solenoid 40 is de-energized for closing valve element 110, as inFIG. 6, which will result in diaphragm 90 being snapped to the left, forshifting poppet valve 94 whereby to open conduit passage 72 and closeconduit for thereby establishing a flow of raw water through conduit 70,conduit passage 72, into chamber 74, to conduit 76, through port 24,through pipe 23, to intake 19 of the softener tank 10; thence fromoutlet 9 of the softener tank through pipe 27 to port 28, thence throughconduit 78, chamber 80, around diaphragm 92, via bleeder passage 200,into conduit 108, and out drain port 32. During this operation checkvalve 170 will be unseated for establishing a flow of water intoconduits 84 and 114 for introducing softened water from tank 10 throughconduit 114 into brine conduit 116; it being understood that thepressure of fluid within conduit 114 is less than that required tounseat check valve 112 during the cycle illustrated in FIG. 6. Theforegoing cycle requires as much time as is necessary to fill brine tank12 with water and simultaneously with the filling of the brine tankwater from the softener will pass upwardly through the valve arounddiaphragm 92 and thence out drain port 32. When the brine tank has beenfilled timer 60 will de-energize solenoid 50 for producing therelationship of elements illustratcd in FIG. 3, viz., with each ofsolenoids 40 and 50 de-energized for placing valve elements and 120 inclosed position.

Each of chambers 74 and 80 may be considered primary diaphragm chambers.

' To summarize, it will be noted that the subject valve, when timeractuated, will automatically terminate the softening cycle and initiatea series of cycles for regenerating and cleaning the zeolite or otherwater-softening material housed within tank 10.

The first phase of the regenerating cycle is that of effecting aback-wash or reversal of flow, injecting the raw water into the bottomof the softener tank and flushing out the tank from bottom to top withthe discharged medium flowing to drain, thus removing free impuritiesand sediment from the mineral bed within the tank.

This operation is accomplished by energizing solenoid 40 to lift valve110 as shown in FIG. 4. With the valve so lifted, there will be apressure drop in chamber 93, permitting diaphragm 90 to flex to theright as viewed in FIG. 4. This moves poppet valve 94 to close offpassage 72 and divert the incoming flow from passage 70 by way of nowopened passage 100 and through 84, 82, 80, 78, 28, through pipe 27(FIG. 1) to the normal outlet 9 of the softener tank, thus reversing thedirection of fiow through tank 10.

At the same time, fluid from the normal inlet 19 of tank 10, asindicated by the arrows, will discharge through 76, 74, 109, 108, drainport 32 and drain pipe 21. During this flow, pressure is maintained insubchamber 91 holding poppet valve 94 in its passage interruptingposition. It will be noted that since the conduit 100 discharges intoconduit 84, during this backwash cycle the input raw or hard water isautomatically by-passed to port 26 to enable the householder or user ofthe system to obtain water during this back-wash cycle. This cycle maybe maintained, for example, for approximately ten minutes for effectingthe basic cleaning or flushing out of the softener tank.

Thereafter, solenoid 50 is activated raising valve 120 so that the partsthen occupy the position indicated in FIG. 5, both valves 110 and 120being in their open position. The pressure drop thus effected insub-chamber 79 will result in deflection of diaphragm 92 to the left asviewed in FIG. 5 moving poppet valve 96 to shut off flow of the raw orhard water into the softener tank Outlet connection and coupling thisconnection by way of 80, 108 to drain. At the same time, movement ofvalve 96 couples the raw water input through 114 to 76 and thus to thenormal softener tank inlet 19.

Brine from the brine tank 12 will be injected along with the raw waterinto the top of the softener tank and will pass outwardly from thebottom of the softener tank, thence upwardly through 78, 80, 108 out thedrain line. This cycle may be continued, for example, for a period of 20minutes for effecting a desired brining and rinsing.

At the conclusion of this operation it is then desirable that a finalfast-rinse be given the system before cutting over to the normal softwater flow to the distribution system is initiated.

This is effected by timer release of solenoid 40 and closing of valve110 as shown in FIG. 6, again impounding the fluid pressure insub-chamber 93, moving poppet valve 94 to seal off passage 100 andpermit flow of the raw input water through 74, 76 to the softener tank.As valve 120 is still in the open position, poppet valve 96 seals offthe direct flow from 78 to 84, the main discharge continuing to be 78,80, 108 to drain, although adequate temporary supply of water todistribution outlet 84 may be supplied from 78 through the one-way checkvalve 170. At the same time, this flow will be effective through conduitpassage 114, 116 to recharge the brine tank, pressure in 76 accentuatedby the check valve spring holding valve 112 closed and sealing off theoutlet from 114.

The foregoing cycle requires as much time as is necessary to fill thebrine tank, after which the timer will deenergize solenoid 50 and valve120 will close shutting off flow from its side of the casing into thedrain line, poppet valve 96 will open, re-establishing the normal flowfrom the softener tank through 78, 80, 82, 84 to the Soft waterdistribution system, as in FIG. 1.

With reference now to FIG. 2, it will be noted that those portions ofdiaphragms 90 and 92 which extend beyond their respective chambers 74and 80 comprise gaskets between the adjacent faces of body portions B-Aand A-C, it being understood that side portions B and C may be securely,though releasably, secured to center portion A by suitable bolts, notillustrated.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings,the construction and operation of the present, improved, automaticcontrol for use in connection with softener and brine tank watertreating mechanisms should be readily understood, and it will be seenthat there has been provided a simple, eflicient, and effectivemechanism for causing adequate periodic cleaning and regenerative actionas respects the softener tank operation.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 3-6, the letter Q denotes apassageway interconnecting by-pass conduit 114 in advance of venturiwith side 93 of diaphragm chamber 74. The letter L denotes suitablemeans such as a conventional normally open fluid actuated valve inconduit 109, which valve means will be closed over rendered effective bypressure in passageway Q for closing conduit 109 during the briningcycle illustrated in FIG. 5 and during the fast rinse cycle illustratedin FIG. 6. When said means L has thus been activated by the fluidpressure in by-pass conduit 114, flow of fluid from conduit 76 andsub-chamber 91 to drain conduit 108 via conduit 109 is effectivelyprevented.

The valve means L may be of any suitable construction to effect theoperation above described. The illustrated valve is generally designatedL. The structure shown consists of a diaphragm casing d having the inletat one side for connection with the passageway Q and having upon theopposite side of the flexible diaphragm d a poppet valve stem s whichextends into a valve housing h which may be interposed in the conduit109. The valve element v is normally maintained in raised or openposition with respect to the seat d, by the spring s which resists thedownward movement of the diaphragm d. As will be readily apparent, whenfluid under pressure passes through the passageway Q into the valvecasing d the diaphragm d will be forced downwardly and conduit 109 willbe closed.

What is claimed is:

1. A regenerating control for water softeners of the type including afiltering softener tank and a brine tank, said control com-prising acasing having inlet and discharge ports adapted to be connected,respectively, to a supply source and a distributing conduit, andadditional ports connectible, respectively, to the inlet and outlet ofthe softener tank, a primary conduit in the casing extending from thesupply inlet port to the softener tank inlet port, a secondary conduitextending from the softener tank outlet port to the distributing conduitport, said casing having two chambers each divided into two parts, saidprimary conduit including a first part of one chamber and said secondaryconduit including a first part of the second chamber, a branch conduitconnecting said primary conduit with the secondary conduit, theconnection of the branch with the secondary conduit being between thesecondary conduit chamber and the distributing conduit port, valve meansin said primary conduit alternately positionable to determine flow fromthe supply inlet port to the tank inlet port or to the branch conduit, aflexible diaphragm in each chamber between the two parts thereof,connection means between said valve means and the adjacent side of thediaphragm in said one chamber, a drainage conduit in said casingextending between the two other parts of said two chambers, a bypassconduit connecting said secondary conduit with the primary conduit at alocation between the said first part of one chamber and said tank inletport, a second valve means in said secondary conduit, said second valvemeans being alternately positionable to connect either the soft watertank outlet port or the bypass conduit with the distributing conduitport and branch conduit, means connecting the second valve means withthe adjacent diaphragm, means for introducing fluid from said brine tankinto fluid flowing through said bypass conduit to said primary conduit,a check valve in said bypass conduit between the last means and theprimary conduit and opening toward the primary conduit, said drainageconduit having a drain outlet between said corresponding halves of thechamber, a bleeder passage between the two parts of each chamber acrossthe adjacent diaphragm, passage means connecting the primary conduitbetween the valve means therein and the supply inlet port with that partof the chamber of the primary conduit to which said drainage conduitextends, means associated with the bleeder passage of the primaryconduit chamber for closing such bleeder passage responsive to apredetermined high pressure in the bypass conduit, check valved passagemeans bypassing the valve means in the secondary conduit arranged topermit flow from the softener tank outlet port to the distributingconduit port but preventing flow in the reverse direction, the two saidvalve means being positively reciprocated to control flow through theirrespective conduits by fluid pressure applied to both sides of theirrespective diaphragms, and electrically actuated valves in said casingcontrolling flow through said drainage conduit and having said drainoutlet located therebetween.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said means associatedwith the bleeder passage of the primary conduit chamber for closing suchbleeder passage responsive to a predetermined high pressure in thebypass conduit is a normally open valve means in the bleeder passage ofthe primary conduit chamber which is made operative to block said flowof fluid in the bleeder passage of the primary conduit chamber onlyduring brining and rinsing operations of the system.

3. A control for water softeners of the type including a softener tankwith inlet and outlet connections and a brine tank, said controlcomprising a casing having a central body portion and opposite side bodyportions, one side body portion having a supply inlet port forconnection to a water supply source and an outlet port for connection toa softener tank inlet port, the other side body portion having adischarge port for connection to a soft water delivery conduit and asoft water inlet port for connection to the softener tank outlet, aprimary conduit in said one side body portion extending from said supplyinlet port to said outlet port, a secondary conduit, said secondaryconduit being in said other body portion and extending from saiddischarge port to said soft water inlet port, said casing having twochambers therein each divided in halves, one half of each chamber beingin said central body portion and each body side portion having the otherhalf of a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm in and dividing each ofsaid chambers into the said halves, said primary conduit including ahalf of one chamber, said secondary conduit including a half of theother chamber, a

branch conduit connecting said primary conduit with the secondaryconduit, the connection of the branch with the secondary conduit beingbetween the secondary conduit' chamber and the discharge port, valvemeans in said primary conduit alternatively positionable to determineflow from the supply inlet port to the tank inlet port or to the branchconduit, connecting means between said valve means and the adjacent sideof the diaphragm in said one chamber, a drainage conduit in said centralbody portion of the casing extending between the corresponding halves ofthe chambers in the central body portion, a bypass conduit connectingsaid secondary conduit with the primary conduit at a location betweenthe first mentioned half of said one chamber and said outlet port, asecond valve means in said secondary conduit, said second valve meansbeing alternatively positionable to connect either the soft water inletport or the bypass conduit with the discharge port and branch, meansconnecting the second valve means with the adjacent diaphragm, means forintroducing fluid from said brine tank into fluid flowing through saidbypass conduit to said primary conduit, a check valve in said bypassconduit between the last means and the primary conduit and openingtoward the primary conduit, said drainage conduit having a drain outletbetween said corresponding halves of the chambers, a bleeder passagebetween the two halves of each chamber across the adjacent diaphragmpassage means connecting the primary conduit between the valve meanstherein and the supply inlet port with that half of the chamber of theprimary conduit in the central body portion, means associated with thebleeder passage of the primary conduit chamber for closing such bleederpassage responsive to a predetermined high pressure in the bypassconduit, check valved passage means bypassing the valve means in thesecondary conduit arranged to permit flow from the soft water inlet portto the discharge port but prevent flow in the reverse direction, the twosaid valve means being positively reciprocated to control flow throughtheir respective conduits by fluid pressure applied to both sides oftheir respective diaphragms, and electrically actuated valves in saidcentral body portion controlling flow through said drainage conduit andhaving said drain outlet located therebetween.

4. The invention as defined by claim 3, wherein said diaphragms areperipherally interposed between and engaged by opposing surfaces of saidcentral body portion and the opposite side body portions and form sealsbetween said confronting surfaces.

5. A control for water softeners of the type including a softener tankwith inlet and outlet connections and a brine tank, said controlcomprising a casing having a supply inlet port for connection to a watersupply source and an outlet port for connection to a softener tank inletport, said casing also having a discharge port and a soft water inletport for connection to the softener tank outlet, 21 primary conduit insaid casing extending from said supply inlet port to said outlet port, asecondary conduit in said casing extending from said discharge port tosaid soft water inlet port, said casing having two chambers therein eachdivided into parts, fluid pressure responsive motor means dividing eachof said chambers into the said parts, said primary conduit including apart of one chamber, said secondary conduit including a part of theother chamber, a branch conduit connecting said primary conduit with thesecondary conduit, the connection of the branch with the secondaryconduit being between the secondary conduit chamber and the dischargeport, valve means in said primary conduit alternatively positionable todetermine flow from the supply inlet port to the tank inlet port or tothe branch conduit, connecting means between said valve means and theadjacent side of the motor means in said one chamber, a drainage conduitin said casing extending between the parts of the chambers divided bysaid motor means from said primary and secondary conduits, a bypassconduit connecting said secondary conduit with the primary conduit at alocation between the first mentioned half of said one chamber and saidoutlet port, a second valve means in said secondary conduit beingalternatively positionable to connect either the soft water inlet portor the bypass conduit with the discharge port and branch conduit, meansconnecting the second valve means with the adjacent motor means, meansfor introducing fluid from a brine tank into fluid flowing through saidbypass conduit to said primary conduit, means in said bypass conduitbetween the last means and the primary conduit and permitting flowtoward the primary conduit while preventing flow in the other direction,said drainage conduit having a drain outlet means, a bleeder passagebetween the two parts of each chamber across the adjacent motor means,passage means connecting the primary conduit between the valve meanstherein and the supply inlet port with the other part of the onechamber, means associated with the bleeder passage related to saidprimary conduit for closing this said bleeder passage responsive to apredetermined high pressure in the bypass conduit, passage meansbypassing the valve means in the secondary conduit permitting flow fromthe soft water inlet port to the discharge port but preventing flow inthe reverse direction, the two said valve means controlling flow throughtheir respective conduits in response to said motor means and valvemeans in the drainage conduit for selectively controlling flow from eachof said chambers to the drain outlet means.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein the valve means in thedrainage conduit comprises electrically actuated valves one such valvebeing located between said drainage outlet means and the chamberassociated with said primary conduit and another valve located in thedrainage conduit between the drainage outlet means and the chamberassociated with said secondary conduit.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said fluid pressureresponsive motor means comprises a resilient diaphragm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,008,486 11/61Schulze 137599.1 5 3,019,817 2/62 Whitlock 137-62418 3,044,626 7/62 Rose137624.18 X 3,083,728 4/63 Schulze 137599.1

ISADOR WEIL, Primary Examiner.

10 WILLIAM F. ODEA, Examiner.

1. A REGENERATING CONTROL FOR WATER SOFTENERS OF THE TYPE INCLUDING AFILTERING SOFTENER TANK AND A BRINE TANK SAID CONTROL COMPRISING ACASING HAVING INLET AND DISCHARGE PORTS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED,RESPECTIVELY, TO A SUPPLY SOURCE AND A DISTRIBUTING CONDUIT, ANDADDITIONAL PORTS CONNECTIBLE, RESPECTIVELY, TO THE INLET AND OUTLET OFTHE SOFTENER TANK, A PRIMARY CONDUIT IN THE CASING EXTENDING FROM THESUPPLY INLET PORT TO THE SOFTENER TANK INLET PORT, A SECONDARY CONDUITEXTENDING FROM THE SOFTENER TANK OUTLET PORT TO THE DISTRIBUTING CONDUITPORT, SAID CASING HAVING TWO CHAMBERS EACH DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS, SAIDPRIMARY CONDUIT INCLUDING A FIRST PART OF ONE CHAMBER AND SAID SECONDARYCONDUIT INCLUDING A FIRST PART OF THE SECOND CHAMBER, A BRANCH CONDUITCONNECTING SAID PRIMARY CONDUIT WITH THE SECONDARY CONDUIT, THECONNECTION OF THE BRANCH WITH THE SECONDARY CONDUIT, THE CONNECTION OFTHE SECONDARY CONDUIT CHAMBER AND THE DISTRIBUTING CONDUIT PORT, VALVEMEANS IN SAID PRIMARY CONDUIT ALTERNATELY POSITIONABLE TO DETERMINE FLOWFROM THE SUPPLY INLET PORT TO THE TANK INLET PORT OR TO THE BRANCHCONDUIT, A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM IN EACH CHAMBER BETWEEN THE TWO PARTSTHEREOF, CONNECTION MEANS BETWEEN SAID VALVE MEANS AND THE ADJACENT SIDEOF THE DIAPHRAGM IN SAID ONE CHAMBER, A DRAINAGE CONDUIT IN SAID CASINGEXTENDING BETWEEN THE TWO OTHER PARTS OF SAID TWO CHAMBERS, A BYPASSCONDUIT CONNECTING SAID SECONDARY CONDUIT WITH THE PRIMARY CONDUIT AT ALOCATION BETWEEN THE SAID FIRST PART OF ONE CHAMBER AND SAID TANK INLETPORT, A SECOND VALVE MEANS IN SAID SECONDARY CONDUIT, SAID SECOND VALVEMEANS BEING ALTERNATELY POSITIONABLE TO CONNECT EITHER THE SOFT WATERTANK OUTLET PORT OR THE BYPASS CONDUIT WITH THE DISTRIBUTING CONDUITPORT AND BRANCH CONDUIT, MEANS CONNECTING THE SECOND VALVE MEANS WITHTHE ADJACENT DIAPHRAGM, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING FLUID FROM SAID BRINE TANKINTO FLUID FLOWING THROUGH SAID BYPASS CONDUIT BETWEEN THE LAST MEANSCHECK VALVE IN SAID BYPASS CONDUIT BETWEEN THE LAST MEANS AND THEPRIMARY CONDUIT AND OPENING TOWARD THE PRIMARY CONDUIT, SAID DRIANAGECONDUIT HAVING A DRAIN OUTLET BETWEEN SAID CORRESPONDING HALVES OF THECHAMBER, A BLEEDER PASSAGE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS OF EACH CHAMBER ACROSSTHE ADJACENT DIAPHRAGM, PASSAGE MEANS CONNECTING THE PRIMARY CONDUITBETWEEN THE VALVE MEANS THEREIN AND THE SUPPLY INLET PORT WITH THAT PARTOF THE CHAMBER OF THE PRIMARY CONDUIT TO WHICH SAID DRINAGE CONDUITEXTENDS, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BLEEDER PASSAGE OF THE PRIMARYCONDUIT CHAMBER FOR CLOSING SUCH BLEEDER PASSAGE RESPONSIVE TO APREDETERMINED HIGH PRESSURE IN THE BYPASS CONDUIT, CHECK VALVED PASSAGEMEANS BYPASSING THE VALVE MEANS IN THE SECONDARY CONDUIT ARRANGED TOPERMIT FLOW FROM THE SOFTENER TANK OUTLET PORT TO THE DISTRIBUTINGCONDUIT PORT BUT PREVENTING FLOW IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION, THE TWO SAIDVALVE MEANS BEING POSITIVELY RECIPROCATED TO CONSURE APPLIED TO BOTHSIDES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DIAPHRAGMS, AND ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED VALVESIN SAID CASING CONTROLLING FLOW THROUGH SAID DRAINAGE CONDUIT AND HAVINGSAID DRAIN OUTLET LOCATED THEREBETWEEN.